Made In England

The edited version of this story first appeared in Simcoe Life Magazine

Spring 2007

 

 

Her hand is steady, as she paints the narrow ½-inch strip of garage door trim – which is even narrower than the paintbrush she is using. Apparently, this is where the real work gets done. To the left of her, his hand is steady as he tenderly rubs his love to a glorious shine, his legs entangled amongst the assortment of chrome wrenches and sockets, strewn about the floor.

Penetanguishene neighbours are unsuspecting of the slight, soft-spoken biker living amongst them. There is no Rottweiler or barbed wire fencing, just love and peace, man.

For John Bakker, retired elementary school teacher, love began at age 17, with his first motorcycle – a 1966 Yamaha 250. His passion for riding in the wind eventually extended itself to the restoration of vintage motorcycles, 15 years ago, when he undertook the task of rebuilding a basket case – actually – two basket cases. In biker language, a basket case is a box full of unassembled motorcycle parts. A baby in a basket, so to speak, looking for a home.

Bakker’s first two basket cases were a 1970 Norton Commando and a 1970 BSA 500 Royal Star, both British motorcycles. One baby led to another and before he could figure out where he was going wrong, it all seemed right. Discovering that most of the parts were Made in England still, and reproduction readily available, Bakker’s hobby of vintage restoration became just that – an intensely passionate hobby, and he found himself once again teaching. Teaching his wife (remember, where the real work gets done?) that chrome on display in every room of the house can be cool; she knows where to find her husband, most of the time, and, in fact, this has earned her the ownership of her own vintage ride – a Honda 350/4. When you can’t beat ‘em, you might as well join ‘em.

Photo ©Elizabeth Bokfi